Collapsible baby-cart.



M. B. LLOYD.

COLLAPSIBLE BABY GAB-T.

APPLIOA'I'ION FILED SEPT. e. 1910.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

mus.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

7H5 NORRIS PETERS 60., PHQTO4LITHOY, WASHING TON. D

M. B. LLOYD.

COLLAPSIBLE BABY CART.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s. 1910.

, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS'SHEET 2 THE NORRIS PETFRS C11.PHOICVLITHOJVASHINQION. D. c.

M. B. LLOYD.

UOLLAPSIBLE BABY CART.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e. 1910.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

.3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

.1 THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-L|THO., WASHINGION. D. C.

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARSHALL .B. LLOYD, 0F MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR- TO THE LLOYD MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF MEN OMINEE, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

coLLArsIBLr. BABY-CART.

Application filed September 6, 1910.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARSHALL B. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Menominee, Menominee county, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Baby-Carts, of which the following is a full, true, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in baby-carriages or go-carts and has particular reference to foldable or collapsible carts or carriages.

The object of my inventionis to provide a hooded, collapsible go-cart orbaby-cart which shall be capable of being folded into a compact parcel by one movement of the handle and which by an opposite movement of the handle can be completely and readily opened up ready for use and which, when so opened, will afford substantially complete protection for the occupant.

Generally my invention consists in a collapsible baby-carriage or go-cart having a main frame, and a handle member foldably connected therewith, and a wheel structure, a body structure and a hood or canopy structure, all of which are collapsible and are connected with each other and with the main frame and handle in such manner that when the handle member is closed upon or opened from the main frame, they are all automatically and simultaneously collapsed or extended therewith.

One of the features of my invention is directed to a novel hood or canopy which may be collapsed independently of the rest of the go-cart or being in open position will be automatically collapsed simultaneously therewith, and which is so related to the other structures of the go-cart that whether it has been independently or automatically collapsed or folded, it will be automatically raised or extended when the go-cart itself is opened for use.

Another feature resides in means for automatically stretching the side curtains, of the seat or body portion, taut, as the carriage is opened.

Another feature lies in the association 'ith the handle and main frame, in a conveniently accessible position, of locking members which are adapted to lock the structure against collapse while it is in use.

Still another feature of my invention resides in the combinationof the'seat back Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 580,584.

which is adapted to be adjusted to a re- ;clining position and a rear curtain whichv is permanently attached at its upper end .riage or go-cart embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the structure in a partly collapsed posi tion; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the go-cart as it would appear when ,completely collapsed; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the go-cart as seen in its open position; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the go-cart in closed or collapsed position. is

In that form of my invention which I have shown in the accompanying drawings 1 represents a rectangular shaped main frame which together with a foldable handle member 2 is adapted to support the several collapsible structures making up the complete carriage. These collapsible structures comprise a wheeled structure 3, a seat or body superstructure 4 and a hood structure 5. All of said structures are associated with the frame 1 and handle 2 in such manner that when the handle is moved into substantially parallel relation with the frame 1, the various structures will be folded upon said frame and in relation to each other to collapse the carriage into a compact parcel which may be readily carried about.

The collapsible wheel structure 3 comprises supplemental wheel frames which consist of longitudinal bars 6 arrangedat each side and beneath the side bars of the frame 1. These bars 6 carry wheels 7 journaled upon their ends and are secured to brackets 8 which extend upwardly and are pivoted at their ends to depending brackets 9 secured to the lower side of the frame 1, said supplemental wheel frames being adapted to be folded inwardly beneath the frame 1 upon, the pivots 10 uniting the brackets 8 and 9. 'Depending cross bars 11 are pivoted 0 to the main frame 1 and have their substantially middle portions joined by the longitudinal bar or link 13, whereby when one of said cross bars 11 is swung on its pivots, the other one will be swung in the same manner. Diagonal links 14 connect said cross bars 11 with the supplemental wheel frames and are arranged so that when said cross bars are swung into substantially parallel relation to the main frame 1, the supplemental wheel frames will be swung inwardly upon their pivots 10 beneath the main frame into substantially parallel relation thereto, the said links having simple ball and socket joints at their ends permitting the angular adjustment of the various parts as described.

The handle member 2 comprises a U shaped member having side bars 20 and an upper cross member or handle portion 21. This handle 2 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the rear end of the main frame 1 by pivots 22 and is adapted to be folded down upon the frame 1 into substantially parallel relation thereto to collapse the carriage. hen in its extended position as indicated in Fig. 1 it stands at an angle slightly to the rear of a perpendicular line and is connected to said frame 1 by a pair of toggle links 23, one on each side, each of which is adapted to have its center pivots 24 forced inwardly of the straight line connecting its ends and thereby lock the handle 2 in its extended or open position and thus prevent the collapse of the carriage when opened for use. These toggle links are provided with locking members at their middle portions which are adapted to be moved in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1 to unlock said links andpermit the collapse of the carriage. The seat or body superstructure 4 comprises a horizontal link or arm bar 30 pivotally connected at its rear end to the handle member 2 and pivotally connected at its forward end to the upper end 31 of the forward cross bar 11. which is extended above the main frame 1 for this purpose. This horizontal bar 30 and the upper end 31 of the cross bar 11 together with the handle 2 and the main frame 1 form a side frame which is substantially a parallelogram and is adapted to be collapsed in the manner of a lazy tong lever by the forward movement or folding of the handle member 2 upon the main frame. The forward end of the arm bar 30 is bent downwardly as at 32 where it is pivotally connected to the cross bar 11, thereby raising said bar 30, producing a pleasing effect in the curved lines and permitting the folding of the various members together in. proper relation. A seat 33 is carried by the main framel between the said side frames upon springs 34 and 35 arranged at the forward and rear ends of the seat respectively. The

seat back36 i ivotallymountedupon the.

rear end of said seat 33 and is adapted to be held in a substantially upright position or in a rearwardly inclined position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In upright position this member forms a back rest for the child when in a sitting posture, and when inclined to the other position it forms a portion of the bed upon which the child may recline. This seat back 36 is retained in its two positions by means of a U shaped wire loop 37 which is pivotally connected at its ends to rigid brackets 38 carried by said side bars 30, the loop portion thereof being connected to the seat back by means of straps 39 which form sliding connections between said member 37 and said seat back and permit said member 37 to be revolved on its pivots and adjust the back from its upright to its inclined position. The back is folded down upon the seat by means of the movement of said side bars 30 as indicated in Fig. 2, the sliding connection between the sup porting member 37 and the seat back permitting the necessary relative movement. Flexible side curtains 40 are adapted to close the parallelograms of the side frames and are permanently attached along their upper edges to the side bars 30 and at their forward edges to the upper portions 31 of said forward cross bars 11. The rear and lower edges of the side curtains 40 are not connected with any member of the frame so that the parallelograms may be properly folded. However, it is desirable that the side curtains be held taut in proper position when the carriage is open for use and for this purpose I provide, on each side of the carriage, a swinging lever 41 pivotally connected at one end 42 to the side frame 1 and connected between its ends by a link 42 to the upper end portion 31 of the forward cross bar 11. The free end 43 of said lever 41 is permanently connected to the free corner 44 of the side curtain. The relation of the lever 41 and link 42 is such that when the carriage is opened for use the end 43 of the lever 41 is moved backward in relation to the other members and carries the free corner 44 of the side curtain-into its proper position and stretches the side curtain 40 into a proper fiat condition.

The collapsible hood structure 5 is supported by the superstructure 4 and is con nected with the handle member 2 by suitable adjustable links whereby it may be collapsed independently of the rest of the carriage or being in open position when the carriage is collapsed will be automatically and simultaneously collapsed therewith. Said hood structure comprises two bows 50 and 51 pivotally mounted at their free ends upon said s ide bars 30. The bow 50 is connected to the bars 30adjacent to their rear ends by the "pivots 52 and the bow 51 is con t d a t e forward ends o th s e. bars by the pivots 53. The said bows and 51 are maintained in parallelrelation by means of horizontal links or bars 54 pivot ally connected to said bows adjacent the upper ends of the side bars of same, the said bars'5 l being maintained in parallel relation to said side bars 30 by the side bars of the bows 50 and 51. The arm bars 30, the side bars of the bows 50 and 51 and the bars 54L form, substantially, parallelograms at each side of the hood structure which open and close after the manner of lazy tong levers similar to the parallelograms of the body structure. To permit the bows 50 and 51 to fold down into substantially close parallel relation without interference be tween the bow 51 and the side bars of the bow 50, the bow 51 is provided with a rearwardly extending bracket 51' to the rear end of which the side bar 54: is pivotally connected at 54:. This construction pro vides an offset connection between the side bar 54 and the bow 51 which holds the bow 51 in slightly raised position, when the hood is collapsed, and free from the side bars 54: as best shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The hood is extended forward by means of a third bow 55 having its free ends pivotally connected to the bow 51 adjacent to its con nection with the said bars 30. In its open position this bow 55 extends forwardly and is maintained in its extended position by means of links 56 'pivotally connected at their forward ends to the upper ends of the side bars of the bow 55 and at their rear ends to the forwardly extended ends 57 of said parallel bars 54, whereby the bow 55 is connected to the rest of the hood structure by positive acting toggle levers, the pivoted ijOlllt 58 of which is carried downward in relation to the bow 55, as the hood structure is collapsed. This action positively folds or collapses the links 56 upon the bow and draws this bow rearw'ardly upon the how 51..

{45 The forward ends 57 of the bars 5 1 are exingly ofi'set in order to maintain this desired tended forward beyond the pivotal connection 58 of said bars with the links 56 and are provided on their free ends with laterally extending projections 59 which are adapted to engage the under side of the links 56 forming v limit stops adapted to lock the hood structure against relation. A flexible cover or hood 59 is permanently attached to the upper portion of the various bows and is adapted to be ex-. tended and folded by the relative movement of said bows when the hood as a whole is extended or collapsed. I sometimes prefer to provide the hood with flexible side curtains which are removably attached to the various structural members of the hood and to the arm bar 30 of the body structure by means of the usual two part snap buttons. These curtains will obviously be folded and extended with the opening and closing of the hood structure and will in combination with the rear curtain presently to be described provide a completely inclosed carriage except as to the front thereof. Said hood structure as hereinbefore stated is adapted to be either independently raised and lowered or automatically operated simultaneously with the operation of the rest of the carriage structure. To accomplish this combined independent and automatic action, the structure is connected with the handle member 2 by links 60 which are pivotally connected to the side bars 20 of the handle member 2, at the points 61 be low the pivotal connection of the side bars 30 with said handle member, and to brackets 62 at the points 63 located above the pivotal connection 52 of the bow 5O withthe side bars 30, the said brackets 62 being rigidly mounted upon and projecting forward from the lower ends of the side bars of the bow 50 of the canopy structure. Said link 60 is a toggle lever and is adapted to be straight-.

ened out to act as a rigid strut or link or to be broken at its middle portion in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1 to permit the hood structure to be folded down or collapsed upon the body structure.

To accomplish the simultaneous collapse of the hood and body structure, the links 60 act to hold or draw the bow 50 rearward on its pivots relatively to the arm bars 30 and thus draw down or collapse the hood, as the handle member 2 is moved forward on its pivots to collapse the carriage, as indicated in Fig. 2. hen the carriage is completely collapsed or folded, as shown in Fig. 3, the pivots or connections 61, and 63 are separated to such an extent that the toggle levers 60 are straightened out to their full length and are then in position to act as stiff struts to raise the hood structure 5 when the carriage is again opened for use. It will be noted that the relation between the body and hood structures is such that the body structure is folded or collapsed forwardly upon the main frame and that the hood is folded or collapsed rearwardly upon the body structure so that both of said structures he i the hood structure is accomplished by breaking the toggles 60, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, when the structure is free to be folded down as indicated in Fig. l in dotted lines. A flexible rear curtain 64 is permanently attached at its upper end to the rear end of the hood structure 5 and is adapted to be removably attached to the rear end and the sides of the seat back 36 as indicated in Fig. 1, when the seat back is in its rear 01' inclined position. This curtain incloses the rear end of the body of the carriage and provides a protection or covering for the upper portion of the childs body when in a reclining position therein.

A foot rest or pocket 7 O is provided upon the forward end of the main frame and comprises a dash board 71 pivotally hung upon the cross member 72 and having its ends and lower edge connected with the forward end of the seat 33 by the flexible member or ourtain 7 3. The member 72 carrying the dash board 71 is pivotally mounted upon the main frame 1 by means of the pivots 12 of the forward cross bar 11 and is adapted to be raised and lowered by means of a cross bar 7 f pivotally mounted upon the main frame at the points 75 adjacent to the forward end thereof and having its ends 7 6 extended above the frame and ending in loops 77 which engage the side bars of said member 72. In one position, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. l, the cross bar 74 is adapted to hold said member 72 locked in raised position and when turned upon its pivots 75 to move its upper ends rearwardly in relation to the frame, the loops 77 slide upon the side bars of the member 7 2 and permit the member 72 and the pocket 7 O to drop into their lower positions as indicated in dotted lines. The lower portion of the flexible member 7 3 when in its raised position forms a leg rest and the dash board when in its lower position forms a foot rest. Said pocket 70 is not automatically lowered from its raised position with the collapse of the rest of the carriage but is necessarily placed in its lower position before the rest of the structure is collapsed, and when in this position the dash board is free to be turned on its pivotal support to be moved into a plane with the main frame.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a collapsible go-cart a collapsible main frame, in combination with a collapsible hood structure pivotally mounted on the collapsible frame, link connections between said hood structure and said main frame operating automatically to open and close said hood structure with the opening and closinlg of the main frame.

2. n acollapsible go-cart, a mainframe and a handle member pivotally mounted thereon, and foldable upon the main frame, to collapse the cart, a collapsible hood structure pivotally mounted on the main frame, and a link connecting the hood structure with the handle member and operating respectively to open and to collapse the hood when the handle is moved to open and collapse the cart.

3. In a collapsible go-cart, a main frame, and a seat thereon, in combination with a collapsible hood pivotally mounted on the frame and extensible over said seat, and means connecting the hood and the main frame, said means operable to permit the independent collapse of the hood or operable automatically to collapse the hood with the collapse of the cart.

l. A go-cart comprising a wheeled frame and a collapsible structure thereon containing a seat, in combination with a hood pivotally mounted on said frame and extensible above said seat, and toggle lever links connecting the hood with said collapsible structure and adapted when in extended condition to raise and lower the hood when the cart is opened and collapsed respectively, said toggle links also being independently operable to permit collapse of the hood while the rest of the structure is in distended condition.

5. A collapsible go-cart comprising a main frame, in combination with foldable wheel frames, a foldable handle, a foldable body structure pivotally connected to said main frame and handle, and a foldable hood structure pivotally mounted on said body structure, toggle links connecting said handle to said foldable hood structure, said toggle links when in distended condition serving to fold and open the hood structure as the handle is moved to and from the main frame, and said toggle links when broken permitting the independent collapse of the hood structure.

6. In a collapsible go-cart a main frame and a collapsible seat structure thereon, in combination with a plurality of bows pivoted to said seat structure, and a flexible covering attached to said bows, said covering forming a hood above said seat when the bows are extended, and means connecting said hood structure with the seat structure and adapted when locked in extended condition automatically to fold said bows together simultaneously with the collapsing of the seat structure, and when unlocked permitting the bows to fold together independently of the collapsing of the seat structure.

7. A wheeled frame and a collapsible body structure thereon, in combination with a collapsible hood pivotally mounted on said body structure, and links connecting the body structure and the-hood,- said links serving automatically to collapse and ,ex-

tend the hood with the collapse and extension of the body structure.

8. In a folding go-cart, a main frame and a handle member pivotally mounted thereon, and adapted to be moved into parallel relation thereto to collapse the cart, a foldable seat structure including side members pivotally connected together and to the main frame and handle, and adapted to be moved into parallel relation to the main frame by movement of the handle, a collapsible hood structure pivotally mounted upon said seat structure, and links operatively connecting the hood structure to said handle, and adapted automatically to fold the hood structure with the folding of the go-cart.

9. In a folding go-cart, a main frame and a handle member pivotally mounted thereon, and adapted to be moved into parallel relation thereto, a foldable seat structure including side members pivotally connected together and to said main frame and handle and foldable into parallel relation to the main frame when the cart is folded, and a foldable hood structure pivotally mounted on the seat structure and comprising a plurality of transverse bows and links operatively connecting said bows, a pair of links pivotally connecting one of said bows with said handle, whereby the hood structure is folded upon the seat structure when the handle is moved forward to fold the cart.

10. In a folding go-cart, a main frame and a handle member pivotally mounted thereon, and adapted to be moved into parallel relation thereto to fold the cart, a foldable seat structure including side members pivotally connected together and to said main frame, and handle, and adapted to be moved into parallel relation therewith, and a hood structure pivotally mounted upon'said seat structure and comprising a plurality of bows, links connecting said bows for simultaneous movement, and toggle levers pivotally connecting one of said bows to said handle and serving when in extended condition to lock the hood structure in extended relation to said seat structure and to cause the simultaneous collapse and extension thereof with the collapsing and extending of the cart.

11. In 'a folding go-cart, a main frame and a handle member pivotally mounted thereon, and adapted to be moved into parallel relation thereto, a foldable body structure including side members pivotally con nected together and to said main frame and handle, and adapted to be moved into parallel relation to the main frame by the handle, a hood structure pivotally mounted upon said body structure and comprising several transverse bows, links operatively connecting said bows, and locking links pivotally connecting one of said bows with said handle and adapted in unlocked condition to permit independent collapse of the hood structure, the relative movement of the body structure and the handle as the cart is collapsed being adapted automatically to return said locking links to their extended condition, whereby said hood structure is automatically extended when the cart is again opened.

12-. Inna collapsible baby-carriage, a main frame and a handle member pivotally mounted thereon, a foldable seat structure, comprising, at each side, a side bar pivotally connected at its rear end to said handle member and a U-shaped supporting'member pivotally mounted upon said main frame and having its free ends extending above same andpivotally connected to the forward ends of said side bars, a hood structure comprising two bows pivotally mounted on said side bars, one at the rear and one at the forward ends thereof, a third bow extending in front of said front bow and pivotally mounted thereon, and connected thereto by a toggle lever to cause said third bow to be extended from and to be drawn back to said forward bow as the hood structure is raised and lowered.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 30th day of August, 1910, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARSHALL B. LLOYD.

Witnesses:

HILDA C. PETERSON, M. J. BRESNAHAN.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

